‘Resident Evil’ Breaks Zach Cregger’s Box Office Record Fueled by China Success

voice film logo squareArthur S. Poe
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Horror has had a remarkable year at the box office, with ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ both achieving significant success. However, the genre’s standout surprise is a video game reboot that has exceeded all expectations.

Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ continues to defy predictions week after week, and its latest achievement could rewrite the franchise’s record books.

The film debuted on September 18, earning $60 million domestically from 3,684 theaters, marking the franchise’s largest opening ever. It also garnered $48.3 million internationally, resulting in a global debut of $108.3 million, far surpassing the projected $40 million to $50 million.

Critics have praised it, with the reboot holding a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 91% audience score, earning the title of the highest-rated video game movie ever. It also received a B+ CinemaScore.

The latest milestone is significant. ‘Resident Evil’ has now surpassed the $300 million mark at the global box office following an impressive opening week in China, which brought in over $40 million.

The film premiered in China on Monday, October 5, achieving a $12.2 million opening day, the franchise’s largest opening day there and the highest for a Hollywood horror film in that market. It accumulated $20 million over Monday and Tuesday, while Deadline had initially estimated a $35 million first week.

The numbers are exceeding expectations. Some box office analysts predict the film could reach a global total of $450 million to $500 million, making it the highest-grossing movie in both the franchise and Cregger’s career. This projection remains a forecast rather than a final count.

Prior to its release in China, the film had already earned $245.4 million globally through its third weekend. It needed to surpass the $270 million earned by ‘Weapons’, Cregger’s previous best, and it has now achieved that.

Next in line are the franchise’s top earners. ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife’ made $300.2 million worldwide, while ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’ concluded with $312.2 million. The latter heavily relied on China and Japan, which contributed approximately $159.5 million and $36.5 million, respectively.

The reboot is already outperforming expectations in North America, becoming the first film in the franchise to surpass $100 million domestically.

The film’s debut in China surpassed several recent horror releases. It outperformed the openings of ‘Obsession’ at $4.8 million and ‘Backrooms’ at $5.2 million, along with the reported $26.1 million opening of ‘Alien: Romulus’ in 2024.

Audience reception has been positive, with the film earning a 7.2 rating on Douban. Japan followed on October 9, providing another significant market for further growth.

Screenshot 2026 09 18 at 08 18 54 Resident Evil 2026 Rotten Tomatoes

‘Resident Evil’ features Austin Abrams, who also played a key role in ‘Weapons’, as a medical courier. His final job of the night thrusts him into a battle against infected creatures in Raccoon City.

Cregger co-wrote the film with Shay Hatten, marking the eighth live-action film in the series. It is positioned as a reboot rather than a continuation of the earlier movies, which has helped it attract new audiences.

Part of the film’s success can be attributed to its audience composition. Reports indicate that opening weekend viewers included 37% cinephile Cregger fans and 46% franchise fans.

Box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian told the Associated Press that the formula for success was straightforward: “Zach Cregger plus big franchise equals big bucks.” He noted that the filmmaker made the movie feel fresh and innovative.

The film reportedly had a production budget of $75 million, excluding marketing costs. Given its current trajectory, it has long surpassed any break-even point.

Cregger has more projects lined up, including ‘Flood’, starring Jennifer Lawrence, set for release on August 11, 2028. For now, his reboot continues to perform well in theaters and is still climbing.

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